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"speaker_name": "Dr. Murungaru",
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"legal_name": "Christopher Ndarathi Murungaru",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for that advice. I would like to urge other Departmental Committees of this House to proceed on the same track as the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let us talk about corruption in our country. Corruption does not do this country any good. In fact, all that it does is to make people out there in the wider world form the impression that in Kenya nothing else happens except corruption. In this nation, we are just about to go the Venezuela way! I believe that in another one year, we will afford to say that we do not need the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank because we will be able to mobilise sufficient resources for both our Recurrent and Development Expenditure. I would like to urge other Departmental Committees that it is about time that we brought this - forgive me, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if this is an unparliamentary word - nonsense about mirages to an end. I remember that when I was the Minister of State for Administration and National Security, I found a contract that had been executed for a forensic laboratory. Money had been paid by the previous Government for a forensic laboratory, but work had not yet started. I remember that I harassed my officers, almost to madness, to ensure that we got value for the money which had been paid. Indeed a plot had been identified at the current CID Headquarters to construct that forensic laboratory. We had only said that no more cent would be paid until work, for the money which had already been paid, was shown. Now, because of the same shroud which was put around the ship and the forensic laboratory, today we are crying that May 2, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1087 we are unable to deal with crime. Why is that the case? It is because we do not have the forensic resources to deal with that crime. I urge both the Government and the concerned Departmental Committees to consider concluding this matter efficiently and effectively so that our country does not lose. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, having said so, and having agreed with the Committee, I must also revisit an issue which was raised this afternoon on the Floor of this House. This is about the application of public resources on some of these activities. We know that a contract for a whooping US$1.5 million has been executed by the Government. I can also say, with a bit of authority, that I am aware that in actual fact that sum has been escalated because PriceWaterhouseCoopers have asked for an extension, not once, but twice, of the contract period. So, it is not even the Kshs100 million we have been told about; it may be more than that. What I am concerned about, and I am very happy that the Assistant Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs is here, is that in this contract, whose documents I had the opportunity to peruse, there are what appear to be glaring illegalities. For example, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) purports to cede powers donated and granted to it by Parliament to exercise solely. They have purported to cede some of those powers to PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Using those ceded powers, PriceWaterhouseCoopers has proceeded to a number of banks in the name of doing forensic works. They have down-loaded all the banking data in those banks. They have also carted away that data and they are purporting to be investigating these matters. So, one fails to relate these things because even lawyer-client accounts have been illegally, without court orders, hacked into and information carted away. The relationship between a lawyer and the client is like that of a doctor and his patient. The confidentiality is sacrosanct and it should not be breached. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, at the same time, crime has been committed because if these people are going to collect data without the necessary legal authorization---What I am trying to say, in short, is that you cannot break law in the name of enforcing the same law. Two wrongs do not make a right. This is the recipe for creating the kind of state that existed in the USA in the days of Edgar Hoover, the infamous director of FBI. During his time, people never used to sleep at all. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to remind this House that all institutions that function in this country are creatures of laws passed in this House. When institutions appear to be running amok, it is the duty of this House to re-evaluate their performance and take the necessary remedial measures. Finally, the fight against corruption takes much more than just a title. It takes leadership and courage. It takes the kind of courage that made Mr. G.G. Kariuki, Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry, Maj. Madoka and Capt. Nakitare to come on the Floor of this House, in spite of what appears to be the public mood to say: \"This is the truth as we know it.\" That is the only way we can fight corruption. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I beg to support."
}